1 Corinthians 4:3

‘But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by man's day.'

Indeed so essential is this relationship between master and steward that anyone else's opinion becomes unimportant. It is to Him alone that the steward is accountable. The Corinthians may make judgments about him as much as they like. They may examine his ministry and ‘compare' him with, judge him alongside ('anakrino), other teachers, but as long as he is being a faithful steward in so far as his abilities will allow, their judgments matter little. He is not of course talking about a situation where Teachers are clearly failing in their responsibility through neglect, arrogance or laziness. He is talking about judging a man who is doing the best he can with the abilities he has, and is concentrating on being faithful to his master

As Jesus Himself pointed out. To justify himself in their eyes would mean little, for it is God alone who knows the heart, and that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God (Luke 16:15).

‘Or by man's day.' He may also be judged by the world in the light of their own perspectives, their own way of life and ideas. For this is ‘man's day', when all is judged in the light of what man thinks suitable, fit or important. But, not understanding the ways of God, they are in no position to judge God's servants. So he does not expect such people to pass a fair judgment on him. ‘Man's day', the time when things are judged from man's point of view, here contrasts with the coming ‘Christ's day' when things will be seen differently, and are judged from His point of view.